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Definition

Pressure helps blood flow through blood vessels. Hypertension occurs when this pressure gets too high. When this happens in the blood vessels in the lungs it is called pulmonary hypertension.

Normal pressure for blood flow through the lungs is one-sixth of the pressure for the rest of the body. Pressure may rise for any number of reasons. It creates a potentially serious condition. The right side of the heart needs to pump harder to move blood against the pressure. If left untreated the right side of the heart can eventually fail.

Causes

Pulmonary hypertension can happen for many reasons.

Since blood vessels in the lungs are very sensitive to oxygen, lower levels of oxygen in the body or lungs may narrow the vessels. Higher pressure will be needed to push blood through the narrow blood vessels.

Pulmonary pressure will also increase when there are abnormalities of the lungs, such as fluid or scaring, heart, or blood vessels.

The increase may be caused by:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common cause. This condition causes destruction of lung tissue. This decreases the number of blood vessels. It also lowers the amount of oxygen available.

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may be referred to a specialist in heart or lung diseases. A cardiologist focuses on the heart. A pulmonologist focuses on the lungs.

Treatment

Most cases of pulmonary hypertension are due to another disease. In this case the underlying cause is treated.

For some, no treatable cause is found. In either case, there are several medications that might be of benefit. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Medications

Pulmonary hypertension may be treated with:

Calcium channel blockers

Anticoagulants

Diuretics

Oxygen

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors

Prostacyclin

Endothelin receptor blockers

Lung Transplantation

A lung transplant may be necessary if the disease has progressed or is advanced. It is generally not considered unless other treatment methods fail.

Prevention

To help reduce your chances of getting pulmonary hypertension, take the following steps:

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.